Storm Damage Preparedness and Recovery

9/30/2024 (Permalink)

Storm Damage

Fort Walton Beach is no stranger to strong storms and hurricanes. Whether it’s heavy rainfall, strong winds, or rising tides, storm damage can happen quickly and leave homes and businesses in need of immediate attention.

At SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach, we are your local storm damage experts, ready to respond 24/7 to any storm emergency.

How to Prepare for Storms in Fort Walton Beach

1. Inspect and Maintain Your Roof
   Make sure your roof is in good shape before the storm hits. Missing shingles, weak spots, or old seals can lead to leaks and water damage during a storm.

2. Secure Windows and Doors
   Installing storm shutters or boarding up windows can help protect your property from flying debris and prevent water from entering during high winds.

3. Create an Emergency Plan
   Make sure your family knows what to do in case of evacuation. Stock up on essentials such as bottled water, non-perishable food, flashlights, and a first-aid kit.

Storm Damage? We’re Here to Help!

At SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach, our storm damage restoration services include:

• Water Extraction and Drying: Using advanced equipment, we quickly remove water and dry affected areas to prevent mold growth and further structural damage.
  
  
• Reconstruction: Whether it’s minor repairs or full reconstruction, we’ll make your property look "Like it never even happened."

If your property suffers storm damage, call SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2552 for fast, professional service.

Emergency Response After a Storm

9/30/2024 (Permalink)

Storm Damage

Storms and hurricanes are a common occurrence in coastal Florida, often leaving significant damage in their wake. At SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach, we understand the importance of a fast and professional response to mitigate storm damage and prevent further destruction.

Our Team Recovery is on standby 24/7, ready to spring into action when disaster strikes.

Why Speed Matters in Storm Recovery

1. Reduce Damage, Save Costs
   
   The longer storm damage goes untreated, the worse it becomes. Immediate response helps minimize water damage, prevents mold growth, and secures your property against additional issues, saving you time and money in the long run.

2. Specialized Equipment and Techniques
   
   Our team uses industry-leading technology to extract water, dry your property, and remove debris quickly. We also provide emergency board-up and tarping services to secure your home or business and protect it from further exposure to the elements.

3. National Support with Team Recovery
   
   As part of SERVPRO’s national Team Recovery, we’re not just limited to helping our local community. When large-scale storms or hurricanes hit, we can deploy teams to assist other SERVPRO franchises across the country. Our mobile team brings expert storm recovery services wherever they’re needed most, reinforcing our commitment to restoring properties after catastrophic events.

If your home or business has been affected by storm damage, call SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2552. We're equipped and ready to restore your property—no matter the size of the disaster.

Convenient Storm Restoration Services for Ocean City Residents?

9/19/2023 (Permalink)

We restore storm damage 24 hours a day in Okaloosa County.

Ocean City is no stranger to severe weather. Hurricanes, tropical storms, thunderstorms – you name it, we’ve had it! That’s why our local Fort Walton Beach team is on call 24 hours a day to respond to storm damage emergencies. Our technicians are highly trained and certified to mitigate and provide cleanup and restoration services – no matter how extensive the damage is.

Local Storm Cleanup Company

We are locally owned and operated and have been restoring storm damage in Ocean City for over twenty years!

Residential Flooding and Storm Cleanup

We use powerful, industrial-grade water extraction and drying equipment to remove water rapidly and dry the damaged areas thoroughly. We also monitor and document the drying process to ensure the area is dried completely.

Severe Weather Damage Restoration

Our technicians are on call and ready to respond to your storm damage emergency day and night, 365 days a year. We have the training, equipment, and experience to restore storm damage to pre-damage conditions efficiently.

Flood Water Removal and Cleanup

Flood water can be contaminated and may pose health risks. Our teams are highly trained and certified to clean and decontaminate areas exposed to dangerous flood waters.

Call Us Today!

When your home or business in Ocean City sustains storm damage and you need fast emergency restoration services, our local Fort Walton Beach team is Here to Help. ® We’ll restore your storm damage “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Are You Ready for the Second Half of Hurricane Season in Fort Walton Beach?

9/5/2023 (Permalink)

We are leaders in storm damage restoration services in Okaloosa County.

Our local Fort Walton Beach team is trained and certified to restore storm-damaged properties quickly and efficiently. It only takes one hurricane to cause widespread devastation, so although this year’s hurricane season is predicted to be near-normal, it is imperative that residents understand the risk and heed warnings issued by state and local authorities.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the most active part of hurricane season in the Fort Walton Beach area runs from August to October. During this period, sea surface temperatures along the Emerald Coast are at their warmest, and atmospheric conditions are favorable for tropical storm development, bringing a higher potential for hurricane activity in our region.

The NOAA continues to improve hurricane observing systems and has two new projects underway this season.

Small aircraft drone systems: The deployment of additional Saildrones, underwater gliders, and WindBorne global sounding balloons are new technologies used to advance current knowledge of hurricanes and improve forecast accuracy.

Tropical Atmosphere Ocean buoy array upgrade: This system is used to forecast El Nino and La Nina conditions that influence hurricane activity. It is being improved to provide additional capabilities including instrument updates, more strategic placement of buoys, and higher frequency observations.

Call Us Today!

When your home or commercial business needs storm damage restoration services, our local Fort Walton Beach team is Here to Help. ® We’ll restore your storm damage “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Storm Damage Rebuilding Services in Fort Walton Beach?

8/29/2023 (Permalink)

We provide rebuilding services for storm-damaged properties in Okaloosa County.

If your home or business sustains hurricane damage, our Fort Walton Beach team can help. We are uniquely qualified to manage every phase of a storm damage restoration, from the initial cleanup phase to providing rebuilding services when required to bring a property back to pre-storm damage conditions. Our customers appreciate knowing they have one, competent company managing the entire restoration, eliminating the headaches of hiring, managing, scheduling, and juggling all of the trades and vendors needed to complete the job.

Building and Reconstruction Services 

• Board Up
• Carpet Repair and Installation
• Document Drying
• Dry Cleaning
• Drywall Installation
• Drywall Removal
• Electrical
• Electronics Restoration
• Fine Art Restoration
• Furniture Restoration
• General Contracting
• Hardwood Floor Repair
• Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Services (HVAC)
• Linoleum Floor Repair
• Marble Floor Repair
• Move Out
• Painting
• Plumbing
• Portable Power
• Roof Tarp
• Roofing Services
• Scalable Resources
• Temporary Fencing
• Temporary Warehouse Space
• Tile Floor Repair
• Tree Removal

We have extensive experience working on all kinds of properties, including:

• Residential
• Small Office Buildings
• Large Office/High-Rise Office Buildings
• Apartment Buildings
• Restaurants
• Hotel/Motels
• Small Retail Stores
• Large Retail/Big-Box Stores
• High-Rise Residential
• Manufacturing and Industrial
• Government/Military

Call Us Today!

When your home or commercial business suffers storm damage and you need rebuilding services in Fort Walton Beach, our local Fort Walton Beach team is Here to Help. ® We’ll restore your storm damage “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Shalimar Residents Take Steps to Minimize Hurricane Damage?

8/7/2023 (Permalink)

We are trained to restore hurricane damage in Okaloosa County.

Our Fort Walton Beach team wants Shalimar residents to be prepared to withstand hurricanes and powerful tropical storms this hurricane season. Preparing your home ahead of time is crucial to help minimize damage and ensure your safety during a hurricane. Here are some important tips from the Environmental Protection Agency to prepare your home for a hurricane:

Secure windows and doors: Install storm shutters or cover windows with plywood to protect them from high winds and flying debris. Reinforce doors with deadbolts or install hurricane-resistant doors.

Clear the surroundings: Trim trees and branches near your home to minimize the risk of them falling on your property during the storm. Secure loose outdoor items or bring them indoors to prevent them from becoming projectiles in high winds.

Reinforce the roof: Ensure that your roof is in good condition and able to withstand strong winds.

Clear gutters and drains: Clean out gutters and ensure that downspouts are clear to allow for proper drainage of rainwater.

Stay informed: Monitor weather updates and follow instructions from local authorities.

Additionally, secure propane tanks, and assemble an emergency kit with essentials like non-perishable food, water, medications, flashlights, batteries, a first aid kit, and important documents.

Call Us!

When your home or business in Shalimar needs hurricane damage restoration services, our local Fort Walton Beach team is Here to Help. ® Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Storm Damage Reconstruction Services for Homes and Businesses in Mary Esther?

7/25/2023 (Permalink)

We provide rebuilding services for storm-damaged properties in Okaloosa County.

Storms cause significant damage to homes and commercial properties every year in Florida. Our Fort Walton Beach team has been restoring storm damage in Mary Esther for over twenty years. Unlike other companies, we provide a full range of cleanup and reconstruction services when needed to return a property to pre-storm damage conditions. Our customers appreciate knowing they have one qualified company managing the entire restoration, from the initial mitigation and cleanup phases to the final phases of reconstruction.

Here are some of the building and reconstruction services we offer:

• Board Up
• Carpet Repair and Installation
• Document Drying
• Dry Cleaning
• Drywall Installation
• Drywall Removal
• Electrical
• Electronics Restoration
• Fine Art Restoration
• Furniture Restoration
• General Contracting
• Hardwood Floor Repair
• Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Services (HVAC)
• Linoleum Floor Repair
• Marble Floor Repair
• Move Out
• Painting
• Plumbing
• Portable Power
• Roof Tarp
• Roofing Services
• Scalable Resources
• Temporary Fencing
• Temporary Warehouse Space
• Tile Floor Repair
• Tree Removal

We have extensive experience working on all kinds of commercial buildings, including:

• Small Office Buildings
• Large Office/High-Rise Office Buildings
• Apartment Buildings
• Restaurants
• Hotel/Motels
• Small Retail Stores
• Large Retail/Big-Box Stores
• High-Rise Residential
• Manufacturing and Industrial
• Government/Military

Call Us Today!

When your home or commercial business in Mary Esther needs reconstruction services, our local Fort Walton Beach team is Here to Help. ® We’ll restore your storm-damaged property “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Hurricane Preparedness for Your Yard in Fort Walton Beach?

7/5/2023 (Permalink)

We restore hurricane damage 24 hours a day in Okaloosa County.

Our Fort Walton Beach team is a trusted leader in hurricane damage restoration services. Residents here have been relying on our teams of professionals to restore their storm damage for over twenty years. Hurricane season is upon us and the City of Fort Walton Beach (FWB) urges residents to prepare for these powerful storms by doing some pre-hurricane maintenance as follows:

• Cut back all trees and weak branches that make contact with your home
• Thin your foliage so the wind can flow freely through branches, decreasing the chance that trees/plants will be uprooted
• Place tree trimmings at curbside on your regular scheduled collection day and follow the 6/40 rule (i.e., each piece cannot exceed 6 feet in length or 40 lbs. in weight) and must be clear of any obstructions.
• Containerize your tree trimmings such as pine needles, leaves, twigs, etc. in plastic bags.
• Clean your yard of any items that could become missiles in a storm such as broken lawn furniture, etc., and call FWB Solid Waste Division for a special pick up on Fridays.

Call Us Today!

When you sustain hurricane damage in your home or commercial business, our local Fort Walton Beach team is Here to Help. ® Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Hurricane Watch Issued for Fort Walton Beach?

6/20/2023 (Permalink)

We have been restoring storm damage in Okaloosa County for decades!

Are you prepared to evacuate in the event of a hurricane watch? The National Weather Service issues a hurricane watch when there is a threat to coastal areas for hurricane conditions within 24 to 36 hours. Our Fort Walton Beach team has been restoring hurricane damage in Okaloosa County for over twenty years.

The Fort Walton Beach Housing Authority (FWBHA) urges residents to be prepared to evacuate when a hurricane watch is issued, and:

Never ignore an evacuation order. Authorities will be most likely to direct you to leave if you are in a low-lying area or within the greatest potential path of the storm. Be aware that most shelters and some hotels do not accept pets.

If a hurricane warning is issued for your area or you are directed by authorities to evacuate the area:

• Take only essential items with you
• If you have time, turn off the gas, electricity, and water
• Disconnect appliances to reduce the likelihood of electrical shock when power is restored
• Make sure your automobile’s emergency kit is ready
• Follow the designated evacuation routes

Call Us Today!

When you need help with storm damage in your Fort Walton Beach home or commercial business, our local team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help. ® Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Evacuation Planning Saves Lives in Ocean City?

5/30/2023 (Permalink)

We are leaders in storm damage restoration services in Okaloosa County.

Our Fort Walton Beach team wants everyone in Ocean City to be prepared in the event of an evacuation order. Here is some information on evacuation planning from the Insurance Information Institute:

• Identify where you can go in the event of an evacuation. Try to have more than one option: the home of a friend or family member in another town, a hotel, or a shelter. Keep the phone numbers and addresses of these locations handy.
• Map out your primary routes and backup routes to your evacuation destinations in case roads are blocked or impassable. Try to have a physical map of the area available in case GPS satellite transmissions are down or your devices run out of power. 
• Pre-arrange a designated place to meet in case your family members are separated before or during the evacuation. Ask an out-of-town friend or family member to act as a contact person for your family.
• Put all evacuation plans in writing along with pertinent addresses and phone numbers and give them to each member of the family. Note that many home printer inks are NOT waterproof, so take appropriate precautions to ensure legibility.
• Listen to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio or local radio or TV stations for evacuation instructions

Call Us Today!

Storms can cause flooding and evacuation orders, so it is a good idea to be prepared in advance. When you have a storm damage emergency in your Ocean City Beach home or commercial business, our local team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help. ® Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Installing a Rain Barrel Can Help Prevent Stormwater Intrusion in Fort Walton Beach?

1/10/2023 (Permalink)

We respond to storm damage emergencies 24-hours a day in Okaloosa County.

Our Fort Walton Beach technicians are trusted leaders in storm damage restoration services, and we have been restoring storm damage here for over twenty years. Here are some suggestions from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for protecting exterior areas of your home from stormwater.

• Install a rain barrel. A rain barrel is an alternative method for dealing with rainwater. Rain barrels are typically connected to gutter downspouts and collect the runoff from roofs. You can use this stored water for non-potable uses such as watering the lawn and gardens or washing your car.
• Maintain proper water runoff and drainage. Routinely clean and maintain gutters, downspouts, and splash pads, so rainwater from your roof flows easily away from your home. Also, make sure that any nearby drainage ditches or storm drains are clear of debris and functioning properly.
• Reduce impervious surfaces around your home. Water runs off concrete and asphalt almost immediately and can quickly exceed storm sewers’ capacity quickly during heavy rains. Retaining and creating natural green space around your home can help reduce sewer overflows by reducing stormwater runoff. Consider options such as rain gardens, vegetated swales, or pervious pavements, which allow more water to be absorbed by the ground.

Call Us Today!

Our team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help ® when your home or commercial business has a storm damage emergency. We’ll restore your storm damage in Ocean City “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Can Your Garage Door Sustain Hurricane-Force Winds in Ocean City?

12/20/2022 (Permalink)

We restore storm damage 24-hours a day in Okaloosa County.

Our Fort Walton Beach technicians have been restoring storm damage in Ocean City for over twenty years. The Florida Division of Emergency Management website reports that more than 90 percent of damage to homes during hurricanes begins when the garage door fails.  

What type of doors are best for high-wind locations?  

• Wind- and impact-rated doors that are tested and approved. Wind-rated is good, and impact-rated is better. 
• Single-car garage doors usually resist wind forces better than two-car garage doors 

• Doors without glass, or glazing, are better than those with glass or windows (unless the glass is impact-resistant) 

How can you strengthen your existing garage door? 

• Check the mounting brackets and connectors and ensure the screws are tight and the track is not loose 
• Add mounting brackets and connectors if you only have three or four on each side 
• Replace rusted pins or worn-out rollers, and make sure they are balanced 

• Consider a bracing kit if the door is weak. If it is, it may fail and wrap around the bracing. 

Call Us Today! 

Our team in Fort Walton Beach is always Here to Help ® when your home or commercial business in Ocean City has a storm damage emergency. We typically arrive within four hours of receiving your call for help. We’ll restore your storm damage “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 850-863-2552. 

Franchises are independently owned and operated. 

Hurricane Damage in Fort Walton Beach?

11/21/2022 (Permalink)

We respond to storm damage emergencies 24-hours a day in Okaloosa County.

Our local technicians in Fort Walton Beach respond to storm damage emergencies throughout the year, especially during hurricane season. Last month, Hurricane Ian brought storm damage, watches, and warnings to many parts of Florida.

Fort Walton Beach has sustained hurricane damage in the past:

• In 1896, a hurricane landed on July 7, when the area suffered severe damage from 90-mile-per-hour winds
• In 1998, Hurricane Earl made landfall 30 miles east with 80-mile-per-hour winds recorded, causing mile damage
• In 1995, Hurricane Opal made landfall along the Florida Panhandle as a Category 3 storm with top wind recordings of 115 miles-per-hour
• In 1953, Hurricane Florence arrived on September 26 with 85-mile-per-hour winds and a five-foot storm surge

Hurricane Watch: An announcement that hurricane conditions (sustained winds of 74 miles per hour or higher) are possible within the specified coastal area. The hurricane watch is issued 48 hours before the anticipated onset of tropical-storm-force winds.

Hurricane Warning: An announcement that hurricane conditions (sustained winds of 74 miles per hour or higher) are expected somewhere within the specified coastal area. The hurricane warning is issued 36 hours before the anticipated onset of tropical-storm-force winds.

Call Us Today!

Our team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help ® when your home or commercial business has storm or hurricane damage. We’ll clean, restore, and rebuild your property damage “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

What Equipment Will Be Used to Extract Stormwater From My Home in Fort Walton Beach?

10/3/2022 (Permalink)

We use powerful water extraction equipment to remove stormwater from homes in Okaloosa County.

Our local technicians in Fort Walton Beach use powerful water extraction equipment to quickly remove hundreds or thousands of gallons of stormwater from your property.

Here is some information from our website about our stormwater removal process:

Move-Out and Pack-Out Services

When your home requires extensive restoration or cleaning, we can conduct an organized and efficient move of your belongings to protect your belongings from further damage.

Emergency Water Removal

We use industrial-grade water extraction equipment to remove most of the water. This helps the drying time and prevents secondary water damage and mold and bacterial growth.

• Moisture detectors, hygrometers, and other meters measure the extent of moisture saturation
• Infrared cameras find “hidden” water behind walls and ceilings
• Submersible and gas-powered pumps are used for continuous pumping of high-level water
• Truck-mounted and portable extraction units perform efficient water removal

Inspect the Carpet Pad and Carpet

We inspect the carpet and pad and determine if they should be removed to protect the subfloor.

• Inspect Carpet Pad and Remove If Needed
• Inspect Carpet and Remove If Needed

Call Us!

When your Fort Walton Beach home or business has a storm damage emergency, our team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help. ® Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Lightning Safety Tips For Bluewater Bay Residents?

9/27/2022 (Permalink)

We respond to storm damage emergencies 24-hours a day in Okaloosa County.

Our local technicians in Fort Walton Beach have been helping people with storm damage in Bluewater Bay for over twenty years. Here are some lighting safety tips from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration:  

• Avoid isolated tall trees, hilltops, utility poles, cell phone towers, cranes, large equipment, ladders, scaffolding, or rooftops
• Avoid open areas, such as fields
• Never lie flat on the ground
• Retreat to dense areas of smaller trees that are surrounded by larger trees, or retreat to low-lying areas but watch for flooding
• Avoid water, and immediately get out of and away from bodies of water
• Avoid wiring, plumbing, and fencing. Stay away from all metal objects, equipment, and surfaces that can conduct electricity.
• Do not shelter in sheds, pavilions, tents, or covered porches as they do not provide adequate protection from lightning
• Seek fully enclosed, substantial buildings with wiring and plumbing. The interior wiring and plumbing in modern buildings will act as an earth ground.
• A building is a safe shelter as long as you are not in contact with anything that can conduct electricity (e.g., electrical equipment or cords, plumbing fixtures, corded phones). Do not lean against concrete walls or floors (which may have metal bars inside).

Call Us!

When your home or commercial business in Bluewater Bay has a storm damage emergency, our team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help. ® Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Storm Water Intrusion Prevention Tips for Fort Walton Beach Homes?

9/20/2022 (Permalink)

We respond to storm damage emergencies 24-hours a day in Okaloosa County.

Along with the rain comes the challenges presented by water intrusion. Our local technicians in Fort Walton Beach respond to water damage emergencies throughout the year, and we see the damage even a small leak can do to a home. Here are some helpful tips from the Insurance Information Institute to keep your home protected from unwanted water:

You can prevent water from entering your home by inspecting your home’s exterior for any place where water can enter the home and making repairs as needed.

• Caulk and seal windows
• Inspect the roof for missing and aging shingles
• Check your rain gutters and remove any debris that may be clogging them
• Check your downspouts and clear any clogs and make sure they are draining away from the house
• Gutter guards are a good way to prevent clogs and water intrusion into the house
• Check your sprinkler systems and make sure they are not spraying water into the house and that water is not pooling around the home’s foundation
  • Make sure water drains away from the building.Water is invasive and will find its way into a structure easily when water is allowed to pool around the foundation. After a storm, or when the ground is already saturated by rainwater, the water may enter into the foundation wall through any cracks.

Call Us!

When your home or business has storm damage, our team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help. ® Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

What Can I Do if I Have Flood Damage in My Home in Fort Walton Beach?

8/16/2022 (Permalink)

We are leaders in storm damage restoration services in Okaloosa County.

When a storm causes water intrusion and your home or commercial business floods, our local team in Fort Walton Beach will restore the damage quickly and efficiently. Here are some tips from our website on things you can do while waiting for help to arrive:

What To Do After Flooding

• Remove excess water by mopping and blotting
• Wipe excess water from wood furniture after removal of lamps and tabletop items
• Remove and prop wet upholstery and cushions
• Place aluminum foil or wood blocks between furniture legs and wet carpeting
• Turn air conditioning on for maximum drying in summer
• Remove colored rugs from wet carpeting
• Remove art objects to a safe, dry place
• Gather loose items from floors

What NOT To Do After Flooding

• Don’t leave wet fabrics in place. Hang furs and leather goods.
• Don’t leave books, magazines, or other colored items on wet carpets or floors
• Don’t use your household vacuum to remove water
• Don’t use television or other household appliances
• Don’t turn on ceiling fixtures if the ceiling is wet, and keep out of rooms where ceilings are sagging

Call Us Today!

Whether your business in Fort Walton Beach needs storm damage restoration services, our local team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help. ® Our technicians will clean and restore your damage “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

How Can I Keep My Pets Calm During a Storm in Fort Walton Beach?

7/27/2022 (Permalink)

Our technicians respond to storm damage emergencies 24-hours a day in Okaloosa County.

Our Fort Walton Beach team has been restoring water damage in Fort Walton Beach for many years. Sometimes pets get very anxious during storms. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) offers these tips for managing your pet’s anxiety during a thunderstorm:

How to Help a Scared Pet

The good news is there are lots of things you can do at home to help your pet. Please remember that one thing does not work for all pets—so keep trying and see what works for them.  

• Keep calm! Your dog is aware of your emotions; they are more likely to get upset if you are.
• Let them hide. If they prefer to stay under the bed, in a closet, or bathroom, let them stay there. 
• If your pet does not have a place to hide, consider creating a safe place for them. Interior rooms where there is less noise or flashes of light are a good place to start.
• Try distracting your pet by playing games. You can turn on the TV, play soft music, or give them a food puzzle or kong filled with their favorite item are all great ways to distract your pet. 
• Anxiety vests or shirts may also help your pet feel calmer

Call Us Today!

When your Fort Walton Beach home or commercial business has storm damage, our team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help. ® Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Hurricane Warning in Fort Walton Beach?

6/21/2022 (Permalink)

We respond to storm damage emergencies 24-hours a day in Okaloosa County.

Our local team in Fort Walton Beach has been restoring storm-damaged properties for Fort Walton Beach residents and businesses in Okaloosa County for over twenty years. The Fort Walton Beach Housing Authority website shares this information about the differences between the various alerts issued for hurricanes:

Hurricane definition: An intense tropical weather system of strong thunderstorms with a well-defined circulation and maximum sustained winds of 74 mph or greater.

The Difference Between a Watch and a Warning

Tropical Storm Watch: Tropical storm conditions (sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph) are possible in the specified coastal area within 48 hours.

Tropical Storm Warning: Tropical storm conditions (sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph) are expected somewhere in the specified coastal area within 36 hours.

Hurricane Watch: Hurricane conditions are possible within the specified coastal area, but tropical-storm-force winds may reach the coast within 48 hours.

Hurricane Warning: Hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the specified coastal area, but tropical-storm-force winds will arrive in less than 36 hours.

Call Us Today!

Hurricane season is here. When your home or commercial business has hurricane or storm damage, our team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help.® We’ll restore your storm damage “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Lightning Strikes in Fort Walton Beach?

5/17/2022 (Permalink)

We mitigate and restore storm damage 24-hours a day in Okaloosa County.

Do you know that Florida gets more lightning strikes each year than anywhere else in the country? Our team in Fort Walton Beach responds to storm damage emergencies throughout the year in the Fort Walton Beach area. Here are some lightning facts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA):

• Lightning's unpredictability increases the risk to individuals and property
• Lightning often strikes outside of heavy rain and may occur as far as ten miles away from any rainfall
• "Heat lightning" is actually lightning from a thunderstorm too far away from thunder to be heard. However, the storm may be moving in your direction
• Most lightning deaths and injuries occur when people are caught outdoors in the summer months during the afternoon and evening
• Lightning strike victims carry no electrical charge and should be attended to immediately. Most people struck by lightning are not killed but are injured significantly.
• Your chances of being struck by lightning are estimated to be 1 in 600,000 but could be reduced even further by following safety precautions 

Call Us Today!

When your Fort Walton Beach home or business has a storm damage emergency, our local team in Fort Walton Beach will clean and restore the damage, "Like it never even happened." Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Tips for Preparing For a Power Outage in Niceville?

4/25/2022 (Permalink)

We are trusted leaders in storm damage restoration in Okaloosa County.

Our team in Fort Walton Beach restores storm damage throughout the year in the Niceville area. Gulf Coast weather can be unpredictable, and power outages happen every year. Here are some tips from the American Red Cross for preparing in advance for a power outage:

• Create a support network. Identify people who can help you stay at home or evacuate during an extended power outage. Keep a paper copy of your contact list.
• Stay connected and alert. Sign up for alert systems and apps for text alerts. Have communication devices that work without home power, including a crank or battery radio, a non-cordless home phone, chargers/batteries for your cell phones and your computers.
• Stock food and water. Store non-perishable food and water supplies for at least two weeks. Plan to use coolers and ice to extend food refrigeration and keep a thermometer in the fridge, freezer, or cooler to monitor the food temperature.
• Know and plan for your personal and medical electrical needs. Take an inventory of your electrical needs. Consider backup and non-power alternatives for lighting, communication, medical devices, refrigerated medicine, cooking, garage doors, locks, and elevators. Discuss a plan with your doctors for your medical needs.

Call Us!

When you have storm damage in your Niceville home or commercial business, our local team in Fort Walton Beach will clean and restore the damage, “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Tornado Warning for Fort Walton Beach Area?

4/19/2022 (Permalink)

We restore storm damage 24-hours a day in Okaloosa County.

Do you know what to do when there is a tornado warning? Fort Walton Beach is known to have tornadoes. In 2021, a tornado caused damage in the area when strong winds caused a power line to fall across Lang Road. Our team in Fort Walton Beach restores storm damage throughout the year in Fort Walton Beach. Here are some tornado safety tips from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) if you are under a tornado warning:

• Go to NOAA Weather Radio and your local news or official social media accounts for updated emergency information. Follow the instructions of state, local and tribal officials. 
• Go to a safe shelter immediately, such as a safe room, basement, storm cellar, or a small interior room on the lowest level of a sturdy building
• Stay away from windows, doors, and outside walls
• Do not go under an overpass or bridge. You’re safer in a low, flat location.
• Watch out for flying debris that can cause injury or death
• Use your arms to protect your head and neck

Call Us Today!

When you have storm damage in your Fort Walton Beach home or commercial business, our local team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help. ® Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Power Outage in Niceville?

2/23/2022 (Permalink)

We respond to storm damage emergencies 24-hours a day in Okaloosa County.

Our local team in Fort Walton Beach responds to storm damage emergencies every year in Niceville and offer these tips on preparing for a power outage from the American Red Cross:

Create a support network. Identify people who can help you stay at home or evacuate during an extended power outage. Keep a paper copy of your contact list.

Stay connected and alert. Sign up for alert systems and apps for text alerts. Have communication devices that work without home power, including a crank or battery radio, a non-cordless home phone, chargers/batteries for your cell phones and your computers.

Stock food and water. Store non-perishable food and water supplies for at least two weeks. Plan to use coolers and ice to extend food refrigeration and keep a thermometer in the fridge, freezer, or cooler to monitor the food temperature.

Know and plan for your personal and medical electrical needs. Take an inventory of your electrical needs. Consider backup and non-power alternatives for lighting, communication, medical devices, refrigerated medicine, cooking, garage doors, locks, and elevators. Discuss a plan with your doctors for your medical needs.

Call Us!

When a storm damages your Niceville home or business, our local team in Fort Walton Beach will arrive quickly to begin the cleanup and restoration process. We typically arrive within four hours of your call. Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

How Can My Home in Fort Walton Beach be Restored After Flood Damage?

2/18/2022 (Permalink)

Hurricanes, flash floods, and tropical storms keep us all on constant high-alert during the summer and fall months.

SERVPRO of FWB Employs Advanced Methods to Successfully Repair Flood Damage

Fort Walton Beach, FL is no stranger to flooding and many area homeowners have experienced it one or more times during their residencies.  Being located along the Gulf Coast leaves us susceptible hurricanes, tropical storms, and storm surge every year. Excessive rains from hurricanes and various tropical storms routinely inundate the area between June and the end of November.  While some residents can avoid the worst of this problem through preventative measures, many others have to deal with catastrophic flood damage. Luckily, for the ones impacted, SERVPRO has the proper equipment and expertise necessary for resolving their issues.                   

Is There Anything I Can Do to Prevent or Mitigate Potential Flood Damage?

There are various ways you can either prevent or mitigate potential flood damage in Fort Walton Beach. These measures help prevent floodwaters from entering your home through its foundation, roof, and windows.  The following is a short list of such preventative steps you can take to protect your home:     

• Seal any cracks in your house’s foundation
• Fix any roof leaks and ensure that your roof drainage system is in good working order
• Cover all openings and windows with sturdy plywood
• Strategically place sandbags around your home to divert floodwaters

What Equipment and Methods Can SERVPRO Use to Dry and Restore My House?

When SERVPRO technicians arrive on-site, they first evaluate your home for damage and then extract any standing water.  Once they remove any remaining mud and trash, our workers start drying and restoring your house.  The general process they follow to do this is:

• Establish a drying goal based on scientific measures such as Temperature, Humidity Levels, and Vapor Pressure of both affected and unaffected areas. 
• The most effective ratio of dehumidifiers to air movers is determined by the cubic footage of the affected area, the class of water, and the amount of standing water that is present.
• Introduce Injectidry systems, connected to dehumidifiers, are used to dry hard-to-reach areas behind walls and ceilings    

Considering everything, you should now understand that there is help available if you need it.  Call SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2552 for assistance.

Improper Gutter Maintenance of Your Fort Walton Beach Residence Can Result In Flood Damage

8/27/2021 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO for help with your gutters.

Improper Gutter Maintenance Can Cause Flood Damage

Your Fort Walton Beach home requires a lot of your attention and maintenance to perform the primary job of keeping outside elements from entering inside. While this doesn't seem like a challenging task for a structurally sound home to achieve, when all of its preventative measures to divert storm damage do not get appropriately maintained, their failure to perform can result in a water emergency for your Fort Walton Beach home.

Such is the case with your gutter system, which outlines the edges of your roof. When this diversion equipment gets jammed full of debris, leaves, and grime, its ability to move water away from your house gets dramatically compromised. Instead of moving water away from your siding and the ground around the foundation of your home, water pools up in the gutter and pours over the sides, overly saturating this area potentially to the point of flood damage to your Fort Walton Beach home.

When a severe weather event rolls through the area and leaves several inches of rain that cannot get diverted away from your home’s foundation, the overly saturated ground around your house can become highly pressurized and force its way through weakening points in the blockwork of your lowest level or basement. Once the water has a point of access, this vulnerable point gets worse and worse the more water allowed to pass through.

Storm Damage Restoration

Our SERVPRO team can not only help to resolve and restore the flood damage that resulted from an event like this but also aids in pinpointing the penetration areas and vulnerable regions of the foundation of your house. Our experienced technicians can seal up these points to keep similar traumatic incidents from happening again in the future. With our tools and expertise, the professional restoration specialists we employ can restore your current flood damage to preloss conditions and offer peace of mind against what the future might have held without foundation repairs.

We do not just claim to be “Faster to Any Size Disaster.” It is an assurance that we can respond quickly to help you set things right when you need us the most. Our SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach team of restoration specialists is available 24/7 by calling (850) 863-2552.

Do Not Let a Flood in Your Destin Home Ruin Your Priceless Items

7/9/2021 (Permalink)

Don't Let Storm and Flood Damage Win the Day. SERVPRO Can Rescue Many Contents and S

SERVPRO Restores Your Damaged Furniture, Materials, and Valuable Contents

Severe weather affects almost every area of the country, and those in Destin are familiar with these instances. While every year is not going to bring about destruction and devastation quite like what Hurricane Michael brought to the doorstep, it is evident that the threat of flooding is more on the residents' minds here than perhaps it ever was before. When disasters like this occur, you have to know whom you can trust to set things right and restore the damages quickly so you can go back to living comfortably in your own home again.

Flood damages to your Destin home can be catastrophic, primarily if you use your lower level for storage purposes. Sometimes valuable heirlooms or irreplaceable items from your past are stowed away for safekeeping only to get placed in harm's way when flooding occurs. While you might be aware of our SERVPRO rapid response emergency teams available for water extraction and damage restoration, you might not be aware of the extent of this restoration process.

Flood Damage Restoration

While many of our SERVPRO restoration specialists focus on repairing the source of the problem and removing the water damage from your home, another branch of our restoration process involves working with damaged furniture, materials, and other contents to restore them. Some of this work can get done on-site with delicate cleaning processes and disinfection.

For more damaged items, our team can take them from the affected area to a workshop where we have a full range of tools and equipment at our disposal. This restoration ultimately is a very involved process, utilizing every resource available to bring the item (deemed important to you) back to its condition before it was damaged by the floodwaters.

Flood damages do not have to be a death sentence to the contents of your home that you hold dear. Call the restoration specialists at SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach as soon as a disaster strikes. Our rapid response emergency team can be reached 24/7 at (850) 863-2552.

How Expensive Is Professional Flood Damage Restoration in Fort Walton Beach?

5/26/2021 (Permalink)

When a storm caused water to enter this property, SERVPRO was there! We dried and restored this home.

Professional Flood Damage Restoration in Fort Walton Beach Is Less Expensive Compared to Self-Restoration 

When your property suffers flood damage, it is vital to involve professional restorers. Restoring your property yourself can lead to severe structural damage and can undermine the foundation of your property. Reputable restorers like SERVPRO can help get your property to its former glory at an affordable cost.

Flood damage in your Fort Walton Beach property requires professional attention no matter the magnitude of the damage. SERVPRO technicians have access to necessary equipment and tools that help us restore our customer’s property effectively and within a brief period.

Our restoration involves: 

• Emergency floodwater removal using advanced equipment: We can use a self-priming trash pump to extract floodwater in your property above two feet. 

• Flood clean-up and waste removal using unique but approved products 

• Building drying: Our team of highly skilled restorers can use portable desiccant units that produce negative air pressure in the affected area. 

Different factors determine the cost of flood damage restoration in your property. How much you would pay for repair services is determined by the damage extent and its location.

SERVPRO restorers can restore a flood-damaged property in as little as a few days. We use a team of highly trained professionals and cutting-edge technology to expedite the process and ensure that your family is safe.

Restoration for your wet carpet and other house items can occur if you act right away. Contact SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2552 to help mitigate flood damage in your property. We are Faster to Any Size Disaster.

How Does Flood Restoration Begin in Destin Homes?

3/22/2021 (Permalink)

Water removal from your property deserves a professional outfit. SERVPRO is ready 24/7 365 days a year.

Flooding from burst pipes or leaking roofs from storms requires fast extraction solutions.

Flood damage in Destin homes can sweep quickly through a structure, requiring practical surface water removal tools to prevent unnecessary tear-out and reconstruction.

What Tools Are Ideal for Water Clean Up After Flooding?

Flood damage in Destin can often be one of the most troublesome situations for area homes and businesses, yet continues to be a common threat to these structures. Cleaning up after these water damages requires multiple extraction tools on the same site. Often, a combination of both stationary pumps and mobile extractors works to eliminate surface moisture concerns to promote a more efficient and thorough drying to come. Some of these water removal tools include: 

• Electric Submersible Pumps
• Trash Pumps
• Carpet Wands
• Wet Vacuums
• Weighted Extractors

Our SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach team can help with multiple aspects of flood restoration, including water removal and repairs. Give us a call today at (850) 863-2552.

What Resources Help Save Property after Flood Damage?

2/17/2021 (Permalink)

What Does SERVPRO Do to Help Destin Residents Affected by Flood Damage?

Storms and hurricanes have had a profound influence on the history of the city. For instance, even though it is currently located on a peninsula that separates Choctawhatchee Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, the area was originally a barrier island. However, hurricanes and changing sea levels gradually connected the island to the mainland, forming the peninsula. It was also identified in a 2013 study as having a high risk of inundation compared to other cities in Florida. 

Since inundation from flooding is a typical risk in the area, residents need a solid plan to save their properties when affected. The circumstances that lead to flooding differ in each incident, and therefore the response plan must be flexible to be helpful. 

SERVPRO handles flood damage restoration professionally and is therefore well suited to respond to any incident. We have highly trained technicians and a variety of sophisticated restoration equipment to match the needs of every restoration task. Some of the standard services we offer during restoration include:

• Content move-outs to create room for repair or minimize exposure to floodwaters
• Structure protection through boarding up
• Decontaminating and deodorization of the structure

What Support is Necessary for Stormwater Removal from Destin Properties?

1/26/2021 (Permalink)

Storms aftermath damages are no easy task to handle. Call the professionals at SERVPRO for their trained technicians.

When You Need Faster Resolution of Storm Damage Call SERVPRO

Storms damages Fort Walton properties, they release significant amounts of water within short durations. If such water accumulates within your property, you need to take steps to resolve the situation. You may need help because the extraction processes are labor-intensive or complicated in other ways.

SERVPRO offers all the assistance necessary to facilitate stormwater removal from Destin properties conveniently. Typical services include:

• Rapid extraction of stagnant water
• Teardown and rebuilding of assemblies such as walls to reach the water
• Moisture extraction and drying of wet materials

Efficient water removal helps minimize the losses caused by storms by minimizing moisture driven deterioration of materials and reducing contamination from microbial growth. Efficiency can mean different things, including extracting water within the first 24 to 48 hours since mold development starts after that period. The removal must also reach all areas, including hidden areas such as wall and floor cavities. Our SERVPRO technicians make flood cuts, drill vents, or use other techniques to open up the concealed areas.

SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach helps property owners in Destin manage all aspects of damage caused by storms. Call us at (850) 863-2552 for immediate assistance.

What Kind of Damage Can Result from Flooding in Walton Beach?

10/30/2020 (Permalink)

Although flood damage can be troublesome to deal with, it is not impossible to remediate.

Flooding Can Impact Fort Walton Beach Homes in a Variety of Ways and Severely Affect Their Livability.

Located on Florida’s Gulf Coast, Fort Walton Beach is prone to suffering the yearly effects of passing hurricanes and tropical storms.  When these powerful weather systems pass, ravaged homes are usually left in their wake.

Flood damage in Fort Walton Beach homes comes in numerous forms. These range from the purely cosmetic to effects that severely undermine a home’s structural integrity. While performing remediations, SERVPRO technicians have encountered the following types of flood-related damage:
    •    Foul odors resulting from floodwater contaminants
    •    Mold and mildew discolorations and stains
    •    Disintegrating drywall and plaster
    •    Warping and buckling of structural elements like floors, walls, and ceilings
    •    Wood destroying dry rot that renders homes unsafe to live in

The sooner these forms of flood impact are identified and treated, the more easily they can be effectively resolved. This is why you must contact a good local cleanup and restoration company, like SERVPRO, as soon as possible after a flood.

What Does SERVPRO Do to Remediate Flood Damage?
SERVPRO’s experts have a clear time-tested process for returning your home to its pre-flood condition. These procedures generally start when we arrive at your residence within four hours of your initial phone call. Of course, our first concern is rapidly extracting standing floodwaters from your house. After this is done with the help of powerful pumps and extractors, we carefully remove hazardous waste and disinfect your home with powerful cleaning agents. Once we finish doing this, our technicians dehumidify your residence with state-of-the-art air movers, dehumidifiers, and Injectidry systems. Advanced foggers are then used to deodorize everything and inject antimicrobials into impacted structural elements and other materials.

Although flood damage can be troublesome to deal with, it is not impossible to remediate. Whenever you need assistance, call your helpful neighbors at SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2552.

How Does a Natural Scientific Principle Like Equilibrium Impact Drying in Destin?

9/18/2020 (Permalink)

Flooding is an unnatural occurrence that can be highly destructive to area residences.

Flood damage can be devastating to Destin homes, especially with the continual shift in airflow, humidity, and temperature.

After a water or flood disaster, professional restoration services hinge on experienced technicians providing more efficient solutions to harsh effects impacting Destin homes. Because flooding can quickly get out of control in susceptible properties constructed in known flood zones, elements like extraction often precede more direct drying and cleaning efforts. This process usually gets completed using multiple tools in the arsenal ranging from wet vacuums to submersible pumps.

Flood damage in Destin homes must get addressed as promptly as possible, as there are many materials and contents at stake when allowing standing water to persist. Even without direct contamination threats and overwhelming standing water situations, drying principles govern the efficiency and effectiveness of chosen equipment and practices. Experienced technicians like our SERVPRO team have a working knowledge of these essential drying principles to anticipate how varying conditions cause the environment to behave. A balance of three drying principles ensures efficient moisture removal and restoration:

    •    Airflow – Considering both the natural air movement through open space and the generated airflow from machines like air movers and desiccant dehumidifiers, regulating where air flows and what materials/spaces become impacted is vital to increasing the efficiency of drying.
    •    Temperature – Warmer temperatures are often ideal for evaporation and even most cleaning processes, as heat increases chemical reactions. Over-drying is a possibility, so temperatures should be continually monitored to ensure that they do not rise to undesirable levels that could damage materials and contents we attempt to restore.
    •    Humidity – The presence of moisture in every environment is unavoidable, but at specific percentages, relative humidity can become damaging to exposed materials and substantially slow the drying process.

How Does the Movement of Air Impact Drying Functions?
Our SERVPRO technicians must take heed of the environmental conditions in each workspace that we intend to dry. The equilibrium principles impact multiple vital factors in drying processes, including temperature, airflow, and relative humidity. With each of these factors' importance to efficient moisture removal, our technicians must remain continually aware of changing conditions caused both by the drying process and through vapor pressures and migration to even out the property.

    •    Moisture Differences – Properties are consistently seeking a balance of conditions, especially those vital to the drying process. Humid and dry spaces in the same house force air movement through materials to even out the moisture content across the open areas.
    •    Temperature Changes – When colder temperatures and warm temperatures share adjacent spaces, equilibrium is sought. Air moves through materials to regulate and balance the varying conditions.
    •    Vapor Barriers – Cooler temperatures and damp materials can prevent airflow through structural elements by creating a vapor barrier.

What Conditions Cause the Temperature to Change?
Temperature has an equal impact on the overall drying process, meaning that this is a condition that SERVPRO professionals must consistently monitor. Understanding ideal drying temperatures ensure that overdrying does not occur and that cooler conditions do not slow the evaporative process.

    •    Balance of the Environment – Often, the work zone is kept at a warmer temperature to promote faster evaporation, but this can also cause cooler rooms and areas adjacent to the drying zone to continually infiltrate this space in an attempt to equalize the overall temperature of the house.
    •    Drying Process – The evaporation of moisture trapped within the wall and flooring materials cools the immediate area. A cool air barrier can form over the affected surfaces making it more challenging to penetrate the surface for continued drying.
    •    External Factors – Open windows and doorways to cooler outside temperatures can directly impact the house's overall temperature - and thereby, the speed of drying.

Does a Present Moisture Influx Impact Drying Efficiency?
Higher humidity levels undoubtedly impact the pace and efficacy of drying methods. The greater the moisture content in the environment, the less efficient air movers and other drying equipment become. As much as air movers play a direct role in drying surface materials like drywall, flooring, and other exposed elements, moisture removal from materials often increases humidity in the room. The elevated moisture can make equipment like the low-grain refrigerant dehumidifiers work harder without more beneficial results.

Flooding is an unnatural occurrence that can be highly destructive to area residences. As overwhelming as the initial circumstances might appear, our SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach team can provide an efficient response complete with all of the necessary tools and products. To make flood losses, “Like it never even happened,” give our rapid response team a call today at (850) 863-2552.

How do I Know if Flooding Weakened my Walls in My Mary Esther Home?

7/26/2020 (Permalink)

Decontamination of your home is just as necessary as restoring normal humidity levels.

Call a Professional Water Restoration Service to Assess the Damage to Your Mary Esther Home

Flooding in your home in Mary Esther can be quite overwhelming, particularly when you don't know what to look for in terms of damage. You may think that extracting water is all you need to do to bring your home back to mint condition, but it is not enough. A professional team can point out any areas of risk in your home to take timely action and protect your family from future complications.

If you live in Mary Esther, your flood damage needs are essential to us at SERVPRO. Let our expert crew guide you as we assess how far the water made it into your home. When water disasters occur, most homeowners do not realize that structural elements in their homes may be vulnerable. The spread of bacteria and even the growth of mold can become a reality if humidity is not put under control.

How do I protect my walls from flood damage?

Our SERVPRO team takes inventory of the damage in your home and plans the equipment and techniques we need. Controlling excess moisture is crucial to our success, so equipment such as dehumidifiers, air movers, and water extractors are standard in our restoration jobs. As we document the process, we pay close attention to the presence of bacteria and hidden water deposits so we can take care of them. This documentation can be beneficial as you connect with your insurance company to file a claim. Meanwhile, to protect your walls, we may take some of the following steps depending on your needs:

    •    Replacing drywall sections as needed and repainting
    •    Preparing the area for other contractors that may need to come in
    •    Disinfecting all areas of your home to avoid the growth of bacteria

Decontamination of your home is just as necessary as restoring normal humidity levels. Our SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach is at your service to help you restore your home. Call us day or night at (850) 863-2552 and let us leave your home, “Like it never even happened.”

What Should I Know about Clearing My House after A Flood Damage Incident in Destin?

5/20/2020 (Permalink)

Storm season in Florida is year round. SERVPRO has the expertise to restore your home.

Removing Damaged and Undamaged Materials from Your Property Is Not Easy, but Your Local SERVPRO Can Help Ease the Process 

Dealing with flooding incidents at your Destin home is not a pleasant experience. Apart from the financial losses such incidents cause, the cleanup, and restoration that follows involve backbreaking work. Removal of contents and even some parts of the structure is standard procedure to allow thorough cleaning. Flooding also damages some materials irreparably, which also necessitates removal. Most people focus on restoring the house, so they overlook the removal of items. 

What typical issues lead to irreparable damage to materials? 

Although different incidents of flood damage in Destin have unique outcomes, the factors that cause permanent damage to materials are common in most cases.    

• Exposure to contaminants
• Heavy soiling
• Overexposure to moisture 

In most cases, the physical properties of the material exposed to floodwater determine the level of damage. For example, porous and semi-porous materials including fabrics, and wooden furniture, are heavily damaged when there is a flooding incident at your property, unlike non-porous ones such as plastic. The water damage can be physical degradation or deep penetration of undesirable substances, which eliminates the chances of effective cleaning. 

How do you distinguish unsalvageable and salvageable materials? 

Since all materials or contents have some value or use, you are inclined to save them whenever possible. However, it would be unwise to retain items with residue damage or overestimate the level of flooding damages in Destin, thus throw away something useful. Our SERVPRO technicians consider several factors to distinguish what is salvageable and what is not. Some of the common factors we consider include: 

• Changes in physical traits
• Deterioration of finishes
• Exposure or release of hazardous materials from within a material

Most organic materials, including wood and its derivatives such as drywall, exhibit signs of physical deterioration such as warping, swelling, or even crumbling when exposed to significant moisture in a flooding incident. In case of swelling, we can reverse the damage through highly controlled drying procedures such as the use of drying chambers. Other types of wood damage such as warping or buckling, are permanent, so removal is the only option. 

Some of the materials around the house have harmful substances within their structure, and exposure to water or high levels of moisture can lead to the discharge of such substances. Alternatively, the process of removing materials to facilitate cleaning or other restoration processes release hazardous substances. For example, the glue holding a glued-down carpet in an area such as a basement might contain asbestos. Our technicians evaluate all materials affected during flooding to establish whether they might contain harmful substances for safe disposal. 

What would complicate the removal of materials? 

Whether you want to remove items to pave the way for restoration processes or because they need replacing, several factors can complicate the exercise. Typical factors that complicate the process include: 

• Finding a place to hold items after the removal
• Finding a way to dispose of the unsalvageable items
• The process of moving materials to the disposal point
• The likelihood of destroying good materials when removing the damaged ones 

In most cases, our SERVPRO technicians find a safe storage place within the structure for salvageable items. We can clear out a room on a higher floor or other elevated section of the property to serve as the storage point. In severe flooding incidents, we arrange for move-outs to a storage facility away from the damaged home. We find ways to hold them around the loss site for unsalvageable materials until we finish the cleanup process without littering. Apart from bringing resources such as large trashcans and heavy-duty plastic bags to hold waste, we also prepare some of the waste for storage during removal. For instance, we cut the pad into small square pieces making it easier to fit in the trash receptacles for disposal. 

Damaging contents or building materials during removal or movement happens for many reasons. However, improper handling or using the wrong tools are the most likely reasons. Our technicians receive training on proper handling, especially when lifting heavy or bulky items. Simple techniques such as bending at the knees first, then at the hip, and pushing with the legs when lifting heavy items make a huge difference in facilitating the safe transfer. We also have a wide array of tools, including pry bars, awls, and rubber hammers. Such tools help with safe disassembly of fixtures like countertops and parts of the structure such as wall panels as well as door and window trims. 

Clearing out your Fort Walton Beach, Mary Esther, or Niceville house to facilitate the restoration of flood damage can be challenging. Call SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2552 to help. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.

What is the Most Common Cause of Flood Damage in Destin?

5/2/2020 (Permalink)

Finding that your home was flooded can cause some panic. Call SERVPRO right away for drying out services.

SERVPRO Technicians Arrive Quickly to Dry Out Your Flooded Property After Common Tropical Storms

One of the general causes of flood damage in Florida homes is seasonal tropical storms. Due to the unique geographical location of the state on the Atlantic ocean, storms can sweep in from the waters and bring intense rain, strong winds, and flooding. The rainwater from the storms can get inside of your home in a variety of ways. Debris can break a window, intense wind can force open an entrance, or an open window can allow gallons and gallons of water into your property. When it comes to flooding inside of your home, it is wise to seek professional help immediately.

As soon as we get your call, we can dispatch an estimator to your home to inspect the flood damage in Destin. The estimator can get a general idea of what our techs need to handle while they make their way to your home. We strive to keep you well informed and involved in every step of the remediation process. The estimator can listen to your concerns about your belongings and what is a high priority for you.

When our SERVPRO techs arrive on the scene, they can begin to extract the flood water as quickly as possible. We use industrial-grade wet/dry vacuums and pumps to remove the water from your home. Using these devices allow our techs to remove the water fast, which is essential because stagnant water can cause damage to the structure of your home and open the doorway to further problems such as mold.

Some floods can bring chemicals and bacteria into the house with the water, but not always. In many cases, the flood can merely carry in dirt, sand, and debris. Our SERVPRO technicians can send your valuable belongings to our cleaning headquarters to rid them of dirty stains caused by the floods. Afterward, SERVPRO can check the moisture levels of your home and then dry out areas in need of service.

Flood Damage Restoration

Our team can be at your residence within hours after you contact us and can start assessing the job as soon as they arrive. Identifying, the source of water in your house is the first thing our team does in emergency situations. Before the crew can proceed, they must stop the source of water flowing into the home. Next, the team can extract the excess water and thoroughly dry the structure.

After the drying phase, the team can inspect your home for the level of damage and checks how far the moisture has traveled inside the structure. The restoration phase may include the use of deodorizers to remove odors. When cleaning carpeting, the team may need to treat both sides of the carpet as well as the floor with an appropriate EPA-registered disinfectant. The crew may also use fogging equipment to eliminate odors in carpeting before and after cleaning the carpet. To clean hard surface flooring, we can deodorize your floors by mopping them with an appropriate disinfectant or by using a ULV fogger if there is severe damage to the floors.

Before the job is complete, we check the walls, ceilings, and flooring for damage. If necessary, our trained crew can remove and dispose of any unsalvageable materials with your approval. Plus, we work with your adjuster.

If seasonal storms leave your home flooded with water, do not delay. Contact SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2552. We strive to arrive and return your home to its pre-flood condition quickly.

Learn More about Destin, FL.

What are the Steps to Recovery After Devastating Hurricane Damage in Fort Walton Beach

4/27/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Says Be Prepared for Storms and Hurricanes in the Fort Walton Beach Area of the Panhandle

Here is a Reminder from SERVPRO to Be Prepared for Tropical Storms 

While you may not be prepared for the devastating damage that hurricanes can do to your Fort Walton Beach home or business, now that the hurricane season will be here before you know it, it is one of the only things on your mind besides the current crisis. As you work towards what comes next, many homeowners and business owners struggle with the steps towards protecting and possibly restoring their properties and getting things back to the way they were before. 

There is an extensive list of steps that you should take towards getting your Fort Walton Beach property professionally restored and repaired to preloss conditions whenever possible. However, even before you seek out the services of our dedicated and experienced SERVPRO team, there are some considerations that you should make to both keep your family safe and to help speed up the restoration process.

The first of these considerations is what your home insurance provider will expect of you if storm damage occurs. While there were many homes and properties that will be affected by severe weather systems, your insurance provider can give you direction and answers to your responsibilities as well as what they need to get the claims process started. In many cases, professional restoration work relies on insurance claims as opposed to demanding payment out of the owner’s pockets. SERVPRO works with you and your insurance adjuster always in your best interest.

Your insurance company might require you to provide some documentation of the damages that your home has sustained from the storm, and often you can do some of this on your own. Unless you are sure about the structural integrity and stability of your property, evidence and damage cataloging is often best left to trained professionals like our SERVPRO estimators. We get uniquely trained in safety precautions and equipment, helping to minimize conditions getting worse as well as knowing what insurance companies need regarding damage documentation.

To help preserve your possessions, even as we pump out the water and dry your home, we can perform a pack-out of some possessions to clean, dry, and preserve off-site. We have a meticulous system for safely packaging, documenting the contents with tags and barcodes, and then return them when your home is ready.

There are few things more unsettling than seeing your home or business after a hurricane has passed through the area. The effects of storms can seem overwhelming to overcome, but with the experience and equipment of our SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach technicians, it can return to preloss condition, if at all possible. Give us a call 24/7 at (850) 863-2552.

Learn more about Fort Walton Beach.

Our Technicians Have The Expertise In Fort Walton Beach After A Flood

3/11/2020 (Permalink)

Pictured is an industrial desiccant dehumidifier which is used to restore large flood damage disasters. We are available 24/7, so call right away.

What Category Loss is Your Flooded Fort Walton Beach Home?

There is often a lot of technical jargon and terminology that can get thrown around in the earliest planning stages for water loss recovery in Fort Walton Beach homes. The contamination level of the water is always a point of concern in flooding scenarios, but so is the severity of the loss regarding the materials affected and the extent of saturation. Categories exist based on how much water exists after a flood and how readily moisture can get evaporated.

Knowing what condition your home is in can help you to appreciate the often-extensive efforts required to restore flood damage in Fort Walton Beach properties. Our professionals have thorough training and education in water restoration and applied structural drying, giving them the experience to take information about the class of loss in a residence and choose the right drying practice and extraction device to make restoration as efficient as possible.

Class 1 

This class is one of the lowest severity levels, which only typically involves a portion of a single room. In these circumstances, evaporative drying gets fixated on the immediately affected materials such as particleboard, wood, and flooring.

Class 2 

While evaporative drying practices are a little faster in a class two loss, the affected area grows as well. In these flood losses, invading water has begun to wick up drywall, and carpeted floors can get saturated to the subflooring.

Class 3 

When roofs leak, the result is often a level 3 loss. These encompass multiple areas of a home and require both extraction like submersible pumps and wet vacuums, as well as direct drying practices involving centrifugal air movers and dehumidifiers.

Class 4 

These losses present direct obstacles for our SERVPRO team regarding drying. Traditional techniques are less useful because affected materials have low permeance like brick and concrete. Drying mats and other specialty tools can help to draw moisture from these materials.

Understanding the class of loss for your flood damage can help you to appreciate the extent of work required to return the property to preloss condition. Give our SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach team a call to help however you need at (850) 863-2552.

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We Have The Proper Techniques To Restore Your Destin Home After A Flood

2/4/2020 (Permalink)

We have the state of the art equipment like this large industrial desiccant dehumidifier to restore your property after a flood. Call us right away.

Pack Out and Move Back for Flood Damaged Contents in Destin Homes

After a flood, our SERVPRO team is working to provide our customers with the most efficient and cost-effective path to return their Destin home to preloss conditions. Because of how devastating invading water can be for the structural elements and the contents of your property, the full recovery and restoration of your belongings might not be possible on-site. With advanced tools and technology available at our warehouse, pack-out and move-back services might be the best possible approach.

Knowing what follows flood damage in Destin homes can help to prevent excessive out of pocket expenses for our customers and expedite claims approval when insurance coverage exists for flooding. It is vital to understand when services like pack-out for personal belongings, content, and furniture are necessary because there might be lower-cost alternatives such as cleaning items and storing them somewhere else on-site or limiting the need for packing and unpacking at our facility for the same focused cleaning.

Pack-Out

If it gets determined by our SERVPRO professionals that move-out services are necessary, we work efficiently to get these items out of the damaged areas to prevent any further absorption or contamination. Our team of content management technicians arrives at the house with packing materials and available storage space to safely and quickly package up your damaged belongings or items at risk for flood damages, and transport them to our warehouse.

Move-Back

Staging is a vital element to the move-back process as it goes to establish how items get repacked into transport vehicles and allow our technicians a final opportunity to inspect formerly damaged belongings for any lingering effects or missed damages. We double-check our inventory and carefully move your belongings back to the residence once all flood effects have been removed, cleaned, and restored.

As destructive as floods can be to your home, they do not have to lead to irreparable damage to your personal belongings. Our SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach team can remove threatened items for focused cleaning and deodorization in our climate-controlled facility as needed. Give us a call anytime at (850) 863-2552.

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We Are Available 24/7 For You Destin Flood Damage Restoration Services

12/11/2019 (Permalink)

We can bring in our own power supply when a storm strikes your property. Call us right away we respond day or night.

Recovering From Flood Damage in Destin

As a Florida resident, you are no stranger to intense weather and natural disasters. Between hurricanes and heavy summer rain and thunderstorms, flooding may occur. Flooding can cause damage to your home and should be adequately cleaned to mitigate secondary damage, such as mold infestations and lingering foul odors. 

If you experience flood damage in your Destin home, contact the trained SERVPRO professionals to help you with the cleanup after the floodwaters recede. Often, the cleanup is the most challenging part of a flood. Floodwater is considered black water or category 3 water, potentially contaminated with disease-infected organisms and contaminated chemicals. Blackwater is not necessarily the color black; the category is based on the source of the water. Floodwaters are always considered blackwater. 

Technicians take extreme safety precautions to ensure protection for homeowners as well as themselves using personal protective equipment (PPE) while they extract remaining moisture, remove damaged contents, and disinfect the home. They also treat flood water contaminated environments with biocides two times, once at the beginning of the cleaning process, and once at the end to ensure the most thorough cleaning possible. 

Biocides are cleaning agents that kill any organisms contained in the black water deterring the growth of mold. Specifically, virucides kill viruses, and fungicides kill mold. SERVPRO technicians also use antimicrobial cleaners called phenolics as a defense against bacteria and fungi. Some phenolic products are OSHA compliant for Bloodborne Pathogens and serve as another form of protection against disease and mold infestations. We hold licenses in mold remediation: MRSR309, and MRSR377, keeping us current in mold elimination techniques. 

The trained professionals at SERVPRO treat each flood damage situation differently and come up with a customized plan to ensure the least amount of damage as possible. The goal is to restore as much as possible without having to replace items that could otherwise be salvaged. An essential part of the plan includes extremely precautious cleanup methods to ensure the health and safety of your home and family.  

Contact SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2552 for prompt help. We are available 24/7 to assist you with your flood water cleanup. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster. 

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Hurricane Dorian - Forecasted Track (Saturday Morning Aug. 31)

8/31/2019 (Permalink)

Forecasted Path of Hurricane Dorian as of Saturday Morning, August 31

Most models at this time are predicting Hurricane Dorian will skirt along Florida's East Coast and then move northeast along the coasts of Georgia and the Carolinas.  It is currently considered an extreme hurricane at Category 4, with wind speeds exceeding 130 m.p.h.  It is presently predicted to strike the South Florida Coast at Category 4 strength, and then lose some of its energy as it moves north by northeast, dropping to Category 3 as it moves further north.  

We will update this website as the storm progresses and as new information becomes available.

Call Us If Your Destin Home Has Experienced A Flood

8/20/2019 (Permalink)

Give our SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach team a call whenever you need us at (850) 863-2552.

Drying Out A Flooded Crawlspace In Destin Homes

Crawlspaces are often designed as part of Destin home construction to combat the likelihood of flooding that exists continually throughout the year. While hurricane seasons often bring a much higher probability of these damaging conditions, the crawlspace of your property can help to reduce the floodwaters reaching into the primary levels of your house. When these areas become flooded, however, there is still a cause for an immediate response from competent professional restorers.

Drying out flood damage in Destin crawlspaces is a priority of our mitigation team that arrives shortly after your initial call to our SERVPRO 24/7 emergency line. Not only can our response to these situations prevent that same floodwater from reaching the main floor of the house, but it can also help our team to better protect your home and its occupants from secondary effects and structural deterioration that often accompanies excessive saturation and overexposure.

Many crawlspaces have not gotten designed to withstand high volumes of water of a prolonged period, and even excessive moisture can present issues too challenging for homeowners to overcome on their own. Reducing the moisture content begins with a thorough assessment of this portion of your property, including the use of discovery devices to determine the saturation levels of exposed structural elements, supports, and joists. This knowledge can help to formulate the ideal strategies for returning the property to preloss condition.

With a limited working area available in a crawlspace, our SERVPRO team must be selective about the equipment used to extract standing water and to begin drying out exposed elements. In most cases, portable sump pumps and wet-vacs can address the majority of floodwater, leaving the rest to get addressed with a combination of desiccant dehumidifiers and high-velocity air movers.

During this recovery process, it is also vital for our team to utilize our antimicrobial solutions to spray materials, elements, and areas susceptible to mold growth. These products can eliminate mold spores seating in the materials and prevent colonization during other phases of both mitigation and restoration of the crawlspace.

Our professionals have permanent solutions for crawlspaces as well through our licensed mold remediation contracting division. We can regrade flooring, install diversion tools and drainage systems, and even encapsulate the crawlspace for even more protection. Give our SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach team a call whenever you need us at (850) 863-2552.

For more about Destin click here.

Our Technicians Have The Protective Equipment Ready To Handle Your Fort Walton Beach Flood Damage

8/6/2019 (Permalink)

When it comes to storm and flood damage timing is essential. We offer our clientele 24-hour emergency service to prevent further damage.

Infectious Waste Removal after Flood Damage in your Fort Walton Beach Property

Floodwaters can bring infectious waste into your home, creating a Biohazardous situation. Microscopic pathogens are invisible to the naked eye but can make you sick after even small amounts of exposure. Typically, infectious waste comes from raw sewage as well as sewer gases that may carry viruses like typhoid, polio, hepatitis, or tetanus. The importance of steering clear of floodwaters that have entered the home is essential.  

Contacting a professional restorer for flood damage in your Fort Walton Beach home is crucial to returning your property to a sanitary living environment. Our technicians are provided with personal protective equipment that allows them to enter a flooded property without risking their health or safety. An initial inspection, known as a scoping procedure, allows a SERVPRO technician to ascertain the type of equipment that can be brought into the affected area to reduce standing water levels and prepare for restoration services.  

Contaminated flood damage waters require storage and cannot be disposed of in the same way that clean water can. After pumping out the standing water from your property, SERVPRO can store it safely until it can be safely disposed of in a specialized biohazardous waste facility. In most situations, solid wastes need to be sealed in protective bags to avoid the chances of cross-contamination. Due to the highly infectious nature of blackwater emergencies, the initial steps involve preparing the site for further restoration. 

Disinfecting the affected area thoroughly, including the planned demolition of sections of drywall is necessary to re-establish a clean zone. Box fans may be placed overnight to remove pungent odors from floodwater or disinfectants while the drying process is underway. A SERVPRO technician can inspect the site again to ensure conditions have been returned to the sanitary state, before beginning work on reconstruction and replacement of removed contents and materials. 

Infectious waste poses a serious health risk. Contact SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2552 if you suspect contaminated floodwaters in your property. 

See more about Fort Walton Beach.

Everything You Need To Address Flood Damage In Fort Walton Beach

6/30/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO can fill you in on taking care of your damage.

Let us hook you up.

After experiencing flood damage on your property, you want to know that the company you call for help does everything it can to make it “Like it never even happened.” In our community, we do precisely that and pride ourselves on providing quality restoration services you can trust. 

If you live in or near the Fort Walton Beach area and have flood damage, give us a call. We have all of the personnel, equipment, and resources needed to provide you with excellent results. Want to know how much we put into performing your restoration? Take a look at our content management process (CMP) and let us know what you think.

SERVPRO technicians begin phase one of the CMP by preparing the initial scope of your restoration and providing you with an estimate. We conduct a pre-move-out review to ensure that we bring everything needed to get the job done right. After arriving on your property, we sort and inventory the contents of your home, with you present. 

SERVPRO packs the contents of your home, keeping every item safe and secure. Our team transports all contents to the warehouse or storage facility and verify that everything stays together. Once your contents arrive, we provide updates to your insurance adjuster and keep you informed as we move into phase 2.

At the start of phase 2, all of your items get placed into a staging area. Your belongings are unpacked and processed for cleaning and deodorization. We assess each item carefully and identify unsalvageable items. Salvaged items are repacked and inventoried before being placed in the clean items staging area. We inform you and your insurance company of any changes, losses, or cleaning issues and allow you to perform a walkthrough.  

In phase 3, your SERVPRO team performs an inventory and catalogs your items one final time before returning everything to your home. If authorized to do so, we can reset the contents of your home and inform your insurance company when the service is complete. We also perform a quality control walkthrough to ensure your satisfaction.

Contact SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach to arrange your home’s initial inspection today. We are available 24-hrs a day, 7-days a week, year-round to provide you with flood damage restoration services you can trust. (850) 863-2552.

If you would like to know more about Fort walton Beach, click here.

Fort Walton Beach, Unwanted Groundwater Flooding, and SERVPRO Ready to Help--and Fast!

5/15/2019 (Permalink)

When Your Fort Walton Beach Home Needs Saving from a Flood--Call SERVPRO

Effective Extraction Options for Flooded Fort Walton Beach Homes

When flooding occurs in any Fort Walton Beach home, it is our utmost priority to respond to the situation quickly to help prevent the situation from getting worse than it already is. We understand how vital it is to offer effective mitigation solutions, as the more useful these approaches are, the more we can save our customers time and money. Mitigation for our technicians hinges on the advanced technology and equipment that we bring to every emergency, helping us to quickly get a handle on the situation and limit the exposure of damaging effects.

We understand that flood damages can often be stressful and traumatic for Fort Walton Beach homeowners. Higher volumes of floodwater in your house can quickly begin to saturate drywall, flooring, and other exposed materials. The initial and most crucial step in restoring order is extracting this standing water before it can continually spread throughout the property and affect new areas yet to get reached. Floodwater is a Category 3 type of water, contaminated requiring special methods, equipment, and gear for safe and fast extraction.

Extraction is a vital component to the mitigation work of our SERVPRO technicians, which begins from the time that our qualified professionals first arrive at your home. For severe situations, we have high-powered extraction equipment such as our truck-mounted pumps that are capable of removing water at 300 psi. This strength is not always necessary, however, so we have many levels of capable water removal tools.
 
Gas-powered trash pumps can remove several inches of standing water in a short period, yet most flooding situations still require more portable solutions like wet-vacs with extraction wands or submersible pumps. All of these units can play a role in preparing your property for the rapid drying solutions our SERVPRO team begins shortly after that.

Extraction is one of the essential steps to overcoming flood damage in your house. Our SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach team can offer efficient mitigation solutions amid a disaster to protect as much of your property as possible. Give us a call anytime that you need us at (850) 863-2552.

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Is it Safe for DIY Floodwater Clean Up in Mary Esther?

4/2/2019 (Permalink)

Heavy rains are a common occurrence in Florida. Call SERVPRO to restore your home.

Why Professional Help is Crucial after Flood Damage in Mary Esther

Flooding incidents overwhelm homeowners with a wide range of damages ranging from soiling, damage to structural components, to contamination. Flooding also leaves copious amounts of water in the house requiring extra effort to extract. We offer professional restoration services after flooding incidents. Our technicians are IICRC certified in Water Restoration and Applied Structural Drying among other skills.  

In most cases, the water and other wastes deposited in a house after flood damage in Mary Esther contain traces of raw sewage, pesticides, and industrial chemicals. Wading into such water can cause health issues. Our SERVPRO technicians use various PPE, Personal Protection Equipment, which helps them work without facing safety and health risks. We have heavy-duty gloves, splash goggles, rubber boots, and full body suits. Safety equipment also helps when mixing professional cleaning products.  

Removing water left by the floods can take a long time especially when done without proper equipment. Water also migrates to concealed locations such as wall cavities and crawl spaces complicating the removal process further. Our SERVPRO technicians use pumps and truck-mounted water extractors which can handle tons of gallons within a short while. We also rely on advanced skills to perform flood cuts and drill vent holes simplifying the removal process further.  

After a flooding incident, other problems such as mold development and bad odors can develop causing long-term problems. Mold is likely to develop if some moisture traces remain in items and materials proper drying is necessary. Odor can be caused by mold or poor cleaning that leaves some soils or debris. Our SERVPRO crews clean properties affected by floods to sanitary levels. We use power washers, surface scrubbers, and professional cleaning agents to achieve the desired results. We also take steps such as using foggers and Hydroxyl generators among other steps to deodorize affected areas.  

For proper handling of flood damage in Fort Walton Beach, Destin, and Niceville areas, call SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach to assist. You can reach us at (850) 863-2552 any time. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Read more about Mary Esther here.

How Storm Water Damages the Structure of Destin Condos

2/13/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach is ready 24/7 to restore your flood damaged condo.

SERVPRO Outlines Steps to Reversing Flood Damage to Condo Units in Destin

Storms are a fact of life in this area of Florida, and unfortunately, flood damage to condo communities is not an uncommon occurrence, especially during hurricane season from June to November every year. Any heavy rainstorm has the potential to cause water damage; the key is to begin remediation as quickly as possible to minimize secondary damage elements such as mold or warping of wood or building materials in the home. 

When SERVPRO Franchise professionals respond to a call to a condo unit, we arrive at your home in hours and begin the cleanup process. Flood water in Destin has the potential to carry contaminants and toxins in and the longer it remains in the home, the more likely both primary and secondary water damage happens. If the flood water has remained in the home for longer than 48 hours, the standing water is considered hazardous black water and requires a higher level of cleanup. 

Our technicians survey the damage and determine the best process for removing ruined materials that cannot be restored, including furnishings and carpeting. Personal items that were affected by water such as photos or documents should be set aside or tell our team so they can locate them quickly to avoid further water damage to the belongings. We can employ our special vacuum freeze-drying techniques on these items. This same process used by the Library of Congress to dry valuable historical documents and books. 

After we pump the standing water out of the condo, the technicians dry the air using both air movers and dehumidifiers to draw the moisture out of the building structure and move it up and out. Once the affected area is dry, we clean surfaces thoroughly with antifungals so mold growth should not become an issue after that fact.

Call SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach to reverse flood damage to condo units as soon as it happens. We are local and available to assist you 24/7, call (850) 863-2552 and one of our certified technicians can begin the process to restore your home to preloss condition.

Destin is known as the “World’s Luckiest Fishing Village.”  Read more here.

SERVPRO Says to Evacuate from the Path of Hurricane Michael, Secure Your Fort Walton Beach Property and Leave

10/10/2018 (Permalink)

Evacuate Now from Fort Walton Beach Before Hurricane Michael Comes Ashore--SERVPRO Says

What to Expect During Hurricane Michael in the Fort Walton/Destin Area

It is a common fact that hurricanes like Michael bring power outages. The intense winds can do damage to power lines and leave homes in the Fort Walton Beach area without electricity for lengthy periods of time, even more than a week. However, many people do not consider all of the damages and the problems they can create during a storm. Understanding the dangers and how to counter them with solutions is vital for weathering the storm safely.

Always remember that losing power often means losing water pressure and a potable drinking liquid. As Hurricane Michael approaches Fort Walton Beach, a possible Cat 4 storm at 140 MPH, make sure you have plenty of sources of water on hand. Buy bottled water, fill your bathtubs, and fill as many water containers you own at home as possible. Dehydration can be a factor. Make sure your vehicle is stocked as you must evacuate before this tropical storm hits landfall.
 
Similarly, remember that if you do not have power, other places most likely won't have power either. Make sure you are not low on any prescription medications you need to take. Ensure that you purchase all of your emergency supplies well before the storm begins.
 
This storm may bring storm surges as high as 13 feet; this can be devastating to the structure of your home or business. You must evacuate.
 
Make sure that you have all the emergency supplies like food, water, medications, clothing, and flashlights as you leave. Have a plan where you can spend the days needed until you can return to your home. The dangers are great, even during the travel path due to flooding, storms, fallen trees, and traffic jams. Don't wait or delay, leave now.
 
A hurricane is likely to do damage to the roof of your home and the siding. Make sure that the safe-place of your house is not in an attic space. Finding a space away from any glass windows is essential as violent winds can shatter them, and the glass can cause injury. An interior bedroom is often the safest place to wait out a storm inside. Of course, with the impending force of this hurricane, the above advice is for much smaller storms.

SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach is here to serve you after the storm has passed. We take pride in helping our neighbors and have support to assist you from our National Disaster Recovery Teams. Contact us, when you can at (850) 863-2552.

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SERVPRO Supplies Destin Customers with a Stress-Free Post Storm Water Extraction and Cleanup

6/28/2018 (Permalink)

Tropical Storm Winds and Rain Causing Problems to Your Destin Property? Call SERVPRO for Help

Storm-Induced Damage in Destin? Call SERVPRO for Fast Cleanup and Restoration

While residents of Destin might not be a stranger to weather systems significant enough to cause substantial flooding through the area, many homes find themselves ill-prepared for this possibility when it happens. Storms passing through can create the kind of damage to allow water into your home through the siding and the roof.

Most Destin homeowners regarding storm damage do not even realize that their houses are susceptible to these disastrous conditions until the water begins flowing into the lower levels of their home unabated. While this situation is challenging enough for just block and concrete construction, when a large limb falls through the roof in a severe tropical storm, the damages and problems are exacerbated.

Our team of SERVPRO technicians is always available to handle emergency calls and works quickly to limit the damage that your home experiences from this natural disaster. From the moment that we arrive at your house, we locate the source of the flooding through the roof, and if possible, we can cover the exposed area with a tarp. Keeping out addition stormwater reduces further water damage and cuts down the service time to dry out your structure. A general contractor can repair the roof when the time is appropriate.

Our technicians can focus on removing any sagging ceilings caused by water intrusion through the attic for safety as well as drying reasons, and discard any soaked insulation as we set up dehumidification equipment.

Flood cuts are often a necessary approach to reach wall cavities and to remove overly saturated portions of drywall used in the finishing process for your lower level. By eliminating several inches to several feet of the material from the floors, our SERVPRO professionals can better extract and dry the areas affected by the pooled water. A thorough drying ensures that no lingering moisture gets left to cause secondary water damages unseen in the walls or underneath the flooring. Persistent moisture combined with the average warmth of a residence is a breeding ground for mold growth.

Flooding in your home is often something that you do not have the time to plan for and prevent. With all of the contents and construction materials in your living space, contacting professional restoration services can help you to keep the damage as minimal as possible. You can trust in our SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach restoration specialists to help you clean up the mess and quickly return your home to preloss conditions, "Like it never even happened." Give us a call 24/7 at (850) 863-2552.

Things to do in Destin, click

When Severe Storms Cause Flooding In Your Destin Residence

3/13/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Swiftly Extracts Flooded Water from Destin Properties

Call SERVPRO Fast to Keep Storm Damages to a Minimum

A raging storm might seem potentially problematic enough as it is, considering elements like hail and high winds that can significantly impact the structural integrity of the exterior of your Destin home. The truth is, it is often the least expected culprits that tend to do the most substantial damage. A good example is falling tree limbs (or uprooted trees in general) that gash holes into the siding and through interior walls, or collapse portions of a roof, presenting large holes which allow rainwater from the severe storm to quickly access the interior of your house.
 
From the moment that a disaster like this strikes your Destin home, it is now susceptible to flood damage. If the severe storm that impacted the tree to fall into your house continues for some time, it can allow untold amounts of rainwater to access the affected area of your home through the newly formed wound. While you might not have the experience to handle a situation like this and to restore the current damages to preloss conditions, our experienced SERVPRO technicians do.
 
When we get dispatched to your home (either amid the storm or after) our immediate priority is the same: we have to seal up the exterior damage to your home that became the source of the floodwater. Often this is simple enough to do in a fundamental sense, as we can board up or tarp over holes to keep elemental damages from getting worse while the restoration process is underway. However, this is a stop-gap measure if it is not too extensively damaged. A construction company should be called in for permanent fixing of breaches to the structure.
 
Once this process has gotten completed, our SERVPRO restoration specialists can implement our extraction equipment to pull the high volumes of water from the floors and surfaces of this area of your home. Wet-vacs with extraction wands typically get used in these situations as they are small enough to reach into smaller crevices and have the power to pull up the liquid quickly.
 
It is nice to think of SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach as neighborhood professionals that can help you to restore your home in the event of storm damage and flooding. Our team has the training and experience to repair and restore the damage to your home quickly and professionally. Give us a call today at (850) 863-2552.

More about this Emerald Coast city here.

When Storms or Floods hit Fort Walton Beach, SERVPRO is ready!

5/31/2016 (Permalink)

Servpro of Fort Walton Beach assisting in storm work

SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach specializes in storm and flood damage restoration.  Our crews are highly trained and we use specialized equipment to restore your property to its pre-storm condition.

Faster Response

Since we are locally owned and operated, we are able to respond quicker with the right resources, which is extremely important. A fast response lessens the damage, limits further damage, and reduces the restoration cost.

Resources to Handle Floods and Storms

When storms hit Fort Walton Beach, Destin, Niceville or any of Okaloosa County, we can scale our resources to handle a large storm or flooding disaster. We can access equipment and personnel from a network of 1,650 Franchises across the country and elite Disaster Recovery Teams  that are strategically located throughout the United States.

Have Storm or Flood Damage? Call Us Today 850-863-2552